The Jacksonville Historical Society

Journal
Articles of Interest about Jacksonville History

º Congressman Charles Bennett
º Alexander Darnes and Kirby Smith
º Charlie "Hoss" Singleton
º Frederick Delius
º Hurricane Dora
º The Patriot War of 1812
º Liberty Ships
º San Marco – A Touch of Venice
º Riverside-Avondale – One of Florida's largest Historic Districts
º Leah Mary Cox
º Consolidation – "The Largest City in the World"
º William Bartram
º Baseball in Jacksonville
º German Spies Invade Ponte Vedra

J.P. Small Memorial Stadium

Jacksonville's First Municipal Baseball Stadium

On June 3, 2006, the newly renovated J.P. Small Memorial Stadium in the Durkeeville community of northwest Jacksonville reopened. The grand reopening was a celebration of sports, history and neighborhood pride. The stadium, known at various times as Barrs Field, Joseph E. Durkee Athletic Field, and the Myrtle Avenue Ball Park, was the first municipal recreation field in the city of Jacksonville.

The Joseph H. Durkee family once owned the property. Joseph Durkee, a former Civil War Union officer, settled in Jacksonville following the war. Durkee became a prominent businessman and politician. In 1911, his son, Dr. Jay Durkee, gave control of the property to Jacksonville businessman and Jacksonville Baseball Association President, Amander Barrs. Barrs created the recreational field that became the site used by local teams, including the Jacksonville Tars and the African-American ball team, the Jacksonville Athletics, a team on which James Weldon Johnson played.

In addition, major league teams, along with their star sluggers, played at the field, including the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The city gained control of the property in 1926, renamed it Joseph H. Durkee Athletic Field, and created Jacksonville’s main municipal park on the site. In 1936, after the original stadium was destroyed by fire, the present structure was built with a larger building that afforded space for a separate section to seat African American patrons in the era of segregation.

During the 1920’s and 1930’s Negro League greats, including Satchel Page, played at Durkee Field. Jacksonville’s only Negro League team, the Jacksonville Red Caps, made up of employees of the East Coast Railroad, used the Myrtle Avenue Ball Park as their home field.

In 1953, the field added another layer of history when it became the location of the first games played by the newly integrated Jacksonville Braves (a home team of the Milwaukee Braves) that included a 19-year-old Hank Aaron. The team’s manager hired Aaron and two other black players.

The following year, Wolfson Stadium was built and replaced Durkee Field at the municipal ballpark. Through the years, the Myrtle Avenue field provided the city’s African Americans other important uses. Area schools, including Stanton (where J.P. Small served as the main coach and athletic director from 1934 until 1969); Raines High School (where Bob Hayes played on football and tract teams); and Edward Waters College practiced and played games in the park.

By the late 1970’s, however, the park experienced a major decline. In 1980 Councilwoman Sallye B. Mathis sponsored legislation to renovate the exterior of the stadium and to rename it in honor of the legendary local coach, J.P. Small. After the death of Mrs. Mathis, Councilwoman Denise Lee and Mayor Jake Godbold hosted a rededication ceremony of the newly named J.P. Small Memorial Ball Park.

Following demolition of Wolfson Park, J.P. Small became the last historic park in the city of Jacksonville.